Planning a visit to Thailand and looking for the best things to do in Chiang Mai? You have come to the right place! This Chiang Mai travel guide will tell you about all the best things to do in Chiang Mai and provide all the essential information you need to plan your trip. Plus, where to stay, the best places to eat and more! Keep reading to plan the best Chiang Mai trip.

Thailand is one of the top travel destinations in the world and well known for bustling Bangkok and the beautiful beaches in the Thai Islands. We have been to the country 4 times till date and are still discovering more and more each time. However, Northern Thailand is often given a miss by many tourists who do not know about the beauty and the variety of activities in the region.

This beautiful, mountaineous and considerably cooler part of Thailand is a must visit for every traveller who loves nature and culture. And the best way to explore Northern Thailand is by basing yourself in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s ancient capital.

Chiang Mai used to be the seat of the Lanna kingdom and today it has become Thailand’s cultural capital. The city is very charming, authentic and has a much slower feel to it compared to Bangkok. It has 300 temples and some of the coolest cafes and restaurants to check out. The mountains around Chiang Mai offer a host of hiking oppurtunities, lots of waterfalls and rice terraces and plenty of natural greenery to rejuvenate the tired traveller.

Nearby is also the Doi Intathon National park which is home to the highest point in Thailand, Pai with it’s natural scenery and numerous smaller mountain villages and towns. The delish (though spicy) northern Thai cuisine, local street markets, meditation retreats and massage centres will make you want to stay here for a long time!

HOW TO REACH CHIANG MAI?

1. FROM BANGKOK:

BY FLIGHTS: There are plenty of cheap flight connections from Bangkok that take only 1.5 hours time.

BY TRAIN: There are 5 daily trains from Bangkok central station to Chiang Mai that cover the 750 kms distance in 10-14 hours depending on the type of train. The day trains are faster while the overnight sleeper trains are a bit slower. Prices vary based on the ticket type: ranging from third to first class. Book train tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai HERE.

BY BUS: Travelling by bus might be a bit quicker than trains as some fast buses take 8-9 hours for the journey. There are sleeper buses, VIP and luxury buses as well. Look up bus tickets HERE.

2.FROM CHIANG RAI: The journey takes 3-4 hours and buses are the best transfer option in this case. Look up bus tickets from Chiang Rai here.

3.FROM LAOS: You can travel by either flights, bus and ferry. Many backpackers opt for the slow boat to Huay Xai, a Lao border town close to Thailand. From there, you gotta cross the border by vans to Chiang Khong and take a bus to Chiang Mai. The bus takes 6-7 hours to finally reach Chiang Mai.

WHEN TO VISIT CHIANG MAI

The best time to visit Chiang Mai is during the cool season from November to February. Temperatures are at their best and it will feel quite pleasant while doing outdoor activities like hiking and checking out all the stunning temples. Winter is a great time to visit flower farms, hot springs and taking tours to the nearby mountain areas like Phu Chi Fa and Phu Langka to see the famous sea of mists phenomena at sunrise.

However, this is also peak season so be prepared for higher costs and lots of tourists. Book your accommodation in advance especially inside the old city and Nimman area. Carry along a winter jacket if you plan on hiking in Doi Intathon and going up to the summit as temperatures  drop to 3-4 degrees.

TIP: November is the time for the Loi Krathong Lantern festival when thousands of lanterns are set off into the sky making for a spectacular sight.

The Worst time to visit Chiang Mai: During the time of mid February to April, farmers in Northern Thailand burn their fields to prepare for the next farming season and this makes the air quality highly unhealthy and hazardous. There is a lot of haze, smog and therefore AVOID this time to protect your lungs.

Summer is from March to May and I would not advise travelling then as temperatures reach up to 40 degrees and this makes sightseeing extremely unpleasant and exhausting. If you do go at that time, aim for early morning starts to finish off by 10-11am and rest in the afternoon.

TIP: Carry your sunscreen, a wide brimmed hat, sunglasses, loose cotton clothes and adequate water to stay hydrated.

NOTE: The famous Songkran festival is in April and it is a fun time with water fights and lots of enjoyment.

Rainy season is from June to October and this is low season. If this is your first visit to Chiang Mai or a short trip, then avoid the rains as it can hamper your sightseeing plans especially outdoor hiking and nature activities. It usually rains mostly in the early morning and late afternoon making sightseeing within the city still possible. The wettest months are July and August.

TIP: Carry along a mosquito repellent to avoid getting malaria and Dengue and be cautious about having street food/water that may be contaminated and give rise to gastro intestinal disorders.

HOW MANY DAYS SHOULD YOU SPEND IN CHIANG MAI

You can easily spend a week just in Chiang Mai alone as there are too many things to do and places to visit nearby. I would suggest at least 3 full days in Chiang Mai city itself to be able to see some of the top sights in the old city and experience a bit of the nearby nature activities.

WHERE TO STAY IN CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai has a lot of accommodation options ranging from budget guesthouses to costly hotels. Before deciding on a place to stay, you have to decide on which area to choose. The main neighbourhoods are:

OLD CITY:

• The original heritage area located within the moat
• Best for first timers, sightseeing, culture and photography
• Walking distance to most temples
• Lot of hostels and budget options
• No Big resorts
• Better option for shorter stays
• Plenty of cheap street food options

2.NIMMAN:

• The hip and trendy neighbourhood of Chiang Mai
• Good for couples and younger people
• Plenty of cool cafes, restaurants, bars, boutique shops and galleries
• Hub of expats and digital nomads
• Better option for longer stays
• Bit away from the old city sights and night markets

You can look up all these stay options in  Booking.com.

WHAT TO EAT IN CHIANG MAI

The food in Chiang Mai is different to the usual Thai fare and has it’s own identity and flavours. Influenced by the neighbouring Burmese and Chinese cuisine along with the Issan flavours of North eastern Thailand, here are the Northern Thai dishes you should try on your trip to Chiang Mai:

• Khao Soy: the most famous Northern Thai dish that is basically noodle soup made with a spicy coconut curry and served with chicken/beef and noodles. Best place to have it: Khao Soi Khun Yai near Wat Rajamontean temple.
• Gaeng Hang Lay Moo: Pork curry cooked in ginger, tamarind and Indian spices. Best place to have it: Laab Kaen Mueng Phan Waen near the South Chiang Mai gate.
• Sai Oua: grilled Sausages
• Nam Prik Ong: Northern Thai chilli dip made with stir fried chillies, garlic, shrimp paste, shallots and coriander.
• Miang Kham: Do it yourself food that comes with fresh betel leaves and a variety of fillings like garlic, shallots, lime, raw mango slices, ginger, chopped onion, green and red chillies along with sweet and spicy sauces. Take the leaf and fill it up as you like topped with the sweet syrup, wrap it and eat!
• Nam Ngiw: Spicy pork noodle soup
• Larb: spicy Thai pork salad influenced from Issan food
• Khao Kha Moo: rice with stewed pork legs. Best place to try: Cowboy hat lady stall in Chuang Phuak gate night market.
• Suki Yaki: mung bean noodles with vegetables, chicken and seafood flavoured with spicy Suki sauce
• Khanom: Thai dessert treats with sticky rice, coconut milk, banana wrapped in Banana leaves.
• Bua Loi/ Floating Lotus: sweet dessert dish with a coconut milk base with tiny rice balls.

WHERE TO EAT IN CHIANG MAI

CAFES TO TRY IN CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai is known for its café culture and there are many inside the old city where you can pop in to try the locally grown coffee while taking a break from all that temple hopping. Some of the popular ones include:

• My Secret Café in Town
• Artisan café’
• Pegasus café and Roastery
• Free Bird Café
• SS1254372 Café
• Nowhere coffee brewers

NOTE: There are some extremely pretty and instagram famous cafes in Chiang Mai that you have to check out. Scroll down in the best things to do to find out!

COCKTAIL BARS TO TRY IN CHIANG MAI

• Dash Resto Bar and restaurant
• Nophabui Bar
• Rise Rooftop bar
• Hard Cocktail bar
• Analog

GETTING AROUND IN CHIANG MAI

1. WALKING: If you stay inside the Old city itself, you can walk around and explore the area and get to see a lot of temples.
2. TUK TUKS: Tuk tuks are a convenient mode of transportation and getting around. You can easily use them when your legs start aching! They are’nt the cheapest though so make sure to haggle prices and bring it down by at least 20-30%. Within the old city, tuks will generally charge 40-50 THB. Most tuk tuks offer a 2 hour temple hopping tour inside the old city that costs 100 THB and is a good way to escape walking in the heat and checking out a few temples. For going to the night bazaar or the walking streets (2-3kms) they charge around 80-100 THB.
3. SONGTHAEW: Known locally as RED TAXIS, songthaews are shared minivans with an open back that ferry people around with various routes and stops. Songthaews are the CHEAPEST transportation mode here but the downside is waiting for it to be filled up.
4. GRAB: The MOST CONVENIENT option, GRAB is the UBER of South East Asia! Download the app and you are good to go. We used GRAB a lot in Chiang mai and found it super useful especially when we had early morning starts and wanted to be the first ones at a place. The price was pretty reasonable, comparable to tuk tuks actually. Grab has the option of both Grab taxi as well as Grab Songthaew (which we chose once for going to the base of Doi Suthep temple as that was the most economical option)
5. BIKE: Renting a bike is pretty common and easy in Chiang Mai. Most hotels offer the normal bikes for cycling in the old city and nearby. If you want a motorbike, make sure you have your license and driving permit. Do not handover your passport ever and make sure to click pics of the bike before taking it from the shop.

30 BEST THINGS TO DO IN CHIANG MAI: THE ULTIMATE CHIANG MAI TRAVEL GUIDE

1. EXPLORE THE OLD CITY

The original Old city is the heart and soul of Chiang Mai. Founded by King Mengrai back in 1296, this old city functioned as the capital of the Lanna kingdom and was surrounded by a defensive moat and walls. Today, parts of the original city walls are still standing at places and there are 4 gates: one on every side.

The most famous of these gates is the Tha Phae Gate, a popular Instagram spot. I highly recommend living inside the old city itself (especially if you are a first time traveller) and exploring the area by walking.

The old city is filled with temples, cute cafes and charming alleys. While it is the city centre and has plenty of hustle and bustle, there are also quiet and hidden corners for moments of peace. Aim for an early morning start to walk or cycle around the area and you will discover new things every time like beautiful street murals or a temple tucked away from sight.

TIP: Lots of tuk tuk drivers offer a 2 hour tour of the various temples within the old city walls. It is a good way to see some of the temples in the hot sun. The cost is generally 100THB for 2 hours.

2. VISIT WAT DOI SUTHEP: THE MOST ICONIC TEMPLE IN CHIANG MAI

If you have to visit just one temple in Chiang Mai, it has to be Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Built in the 13^th century, this temple is located on top of one of the highest Thai mountains and offers spectacular views of the city. Legend goes that a royal white elephant carrying a bone of Buddha fell down, trumpeted three times and died and the temple was built at the very same spot.

There are 306 stairs leading to the top and the beautiful Naga staircase is something to see. Inside, there is the golden pagoda and many more beautiful statues, gardens and other details. Visit very early in the morning when it is peaceful and serene or pre sunset to see the beautiful colours.

TIPS: Timings: 6am-8pm. Entry Fees: 50 THB pp and the ticket office is on the top. Wear decent clothes covering knees and shoulders.

There is a cable car funicular to the top that operates from 6am and costs 30THB pp for a return ticket.

3. CHECK OUT SOME OF THE STUNNING TEMPLES IN THE OLD CITY

Chiang Mai is home to around 300 temples! No wonder it is called as Thailand’s cultural capital. You can literally walk and come across a temple in every single street! While seeing all or even a fraction of them might be impossible due to lack of time, energy and the well described phenomena of ‘temple Fatigue’, you have to check out at least a few to know more about Chiang Mai’s culture. There are temples which are popular, some not so popular and others which are completely unknown, and its better to visit a mix of temples.

Some of the temples that you absolutely need to visit include:

• Wat Phra Singh (Chiang Mai’s most popular temple with it’s golden stupa)
• Wat Chiang man(the oldest temple in Chiang Mai)
• Wat Chedi Luang(used to house the famous Emerald Buddha statue)
• the stunning Wat Sri Suphan or the Silver temple (which is still relatively lesser known).

Apart from this, there are others that you will come across while walking around in the old city. Coming across a hidden gem often turns out to be the highlight and one of the reasons for travelling. If temples interest you, make sure to reserve a whole day in Chiang Mai just for this!

TIPS: Wear loose and modest clothes covering up shoulders and knees while visiting temples. It is better to carry a scarf/sarong to cover up.

If you are interested in photography or want to take some pictures for the gram, go early around 7-9am before people start arriving.

4. PARTICIPATE IN A MONK CHAT AT ONE OF THE TEMPLES

One of the interesting activities to do in Chiang Mai is to participate in a monk chat. This is basically an informal discussion that takes place in many of the temples where novice monks have conversations with interested visitors. The monks are friendly and take part to practise their English as well as share views on different things.

Some temples have fixed days and timings while others usually offer chats all day. If you want to take part, look up the timings online and go to the temple office to see if any monks are available to chat. Usually, you will find a monk or two sitting around with their books.

We participated in a monk chat at Wat Chedi Luang and exchanged our views on Buddhism, spirituality, philosophy and Hinduism. We ended up chatting for almost an hour and I would have stayed more had it not been lunch time. I liked the experience a lot and highly recommend it as a way to understand more about Buddhism and Thailand.

TIP: Women can chat with a monk but make sure you are modestly dressed and refrain from touching the monk.

5. HIKE IN DOI INTATHON NATIONAL PARK

Doi Intathon is the highest mountain in Thailand and has an elevation of 2562 metres. Located 80kms away from Chiang Mai city, the national park has plenty of activities to warrant a visit. Some of the points of interest here include:

• The Twin Royal Pagodas built for the king and the queen which are surrounded by beautiful gardens of hydrangeas and cherry blossoms
• The Highest Point in Thailand aka ‘The Summit’
• Lots of beautiful hiking trails to discover the flora, fauna and numerous view points. The main hiking trails include Kew Mae Pan and Pha Dok Siew trails
• Many waterfalls like Wachirathan, Mae Ya and Sirithan falls
• Local tribal villages with coffee and flower plantations

The easiest way to visit Doi Intathon is to go on a day tour with everything arranged. Many companies offer group and private tours. We went with THIS TOUR as I found their plans and reviews the best. You can also visit Doi Intathon on your own by renting a car and self driving or taking a driver. It is possible to go right upto the base of the twin pagodas and park there.

TIPS: Park Entry Fees: 300 THB, bike fees: 20 THB, Car fees: 30 THB, Hiking Guide fees: 150-200 THB (depending on the trail), twin pagodas fees: 100 THB

6. CHECK OUT THE COOL NIMMAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

Nimmanhaemin Road which is popularly called as Nimman is probably the trendiest area in Chiang Mai with cool restaurants, vintage shops and hip bars everywhere. There are many boutiques here selling unique items of clothing and art work by local designers.

If you want something better than the stuff at the Night Bazaars, head to Nimman and browse through the shops. Nimman is also known for its collection of cafes and restaurants and you might want to try some of them like:

• Pizaa in my Heart
• Manifreshto
• Rise Rooftop bar
• Tim Ban Yaii homemade ice cream
• SS1254372 Café
• Free Bird Cafe

7. HIKE THE MONK’S TRAIL

If you don’t have time to go hiking in Doi Intathon national park, you can opt for the nearby Monk’s trail hike. This is a moderate 1 hour hike that leads up to the Wat Pha Lat temple, which is completely hidden from view within the Doi Suthep national park area. The starting point lies near the rear entry of Chiang Mai zoo. This walking route was originally used by the monks to reach the temple and they marked the trail using bits of orange cloth, hence given the name Monk’s trail.

These days, its becoming more known among active travellers due to which the monks have changed their route and the orange clothes are no longer seen on the trees anymore. Wat Pha Lat temple itself is small and quiet and has a more authentic vibe due to it’s location inside a jungle and lack of shops etc.

TIPS: It makes sense to combine the Monk’s trail hike with a visit to Doi Suthep temple as they both are located in the same area. Ideally, head to Doi Suthep very early around 6-7am to enjoy the temple in peace. After visiting, catch a shared Songthaew from the base of Doi Suthep till Chiang Mai zoo which should cost 30 THB pp and take 10 mins. The starting point of the hike is well marked there.

The hike up to Wat Pha Lat temple continues all the way up to Doi Suthep temple though that part of the hike is much more challenging from what I have read.

Another tip is to hike on the way up, visit Wat Pha Lat temple and then try to catch a songthaew from the road near the temple for the way back rather than hiking all the way back down again.

8. ELEPHANT NATURE PARK

Thailand has a bad history with regards to animal abuses and highly unethical tourist attractions like Tiger Kingdom and Elephant rides. That is why, Elephant Nature Park stands out even more with the work that they do for rescued elephants. Probably one of the only ethical elephant camps in the country, this place prohibits riding and any interaction that is unnatural and touristy. 

You can book day tours, overnight stays and even volunteer for a few days. It is an expensive experience for sure, but their work for these elephants makes it worth it.

Elephant Nature Park is highly popular and tends to get sold out quickly, so book ahead. You can check out their website here.

9. SEE THE 3 KINGS MONUMENT

You will come across the three kings statue while exploring the old city so you don’t need to make a special trip just to see it. This statue was built in 1984 to commemorate the three kings who joined hands and built Chiang Mai. The statue is considered as the symbol of Chiang Mai and is located opposite the city hall. Behind it stands the Chiang Mai Arts and cultural centre.

10. VISIT THE CHIANG MAI ART’S CULTURAL CENTRE AND MUSEUM

Located behind the Three Kings monument, the cultural centre is built in the former royal hall and houses a museum showcasing the historical and cultural development of the Chiang Mai region. It has a section for cultural performances, Lanna art exhibition, lecture theatre and a souvenir shop.

TIPS: Timings 8.30am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays. Entry Fees: 90 THB (adults), 40 THB (children)

11. ATTEND A MUAY THAI MATCH

One of the most unique things to do in Thailand is to watch a Muay Thai match. Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand and it originated from Thai military training methods. There are three places to watch these matches in Chiang Mai: Tha Phae stadium, LoiKroh stadium and Kalare stadium. Tickets cost around 500-600 THB pp. You can check out options HERE.

12. WATCH A SHOW AT THE OLD CHIANG MAI CULTURAL CENTRE

If you want to experience some Chiang Mai culture first hand you can book a show at cultural centre.  A typical show lasts for 2-3 hours and consists of a traditional Thai style Khantoke dinner along with Lanna and ethnic tribal dance performances. You check details HERE

After temple hopping and hiking, we come to the best part of Chiang Mai: THE FOOD!

13. SHOP AND EAT AT THE NIGHT BAZAAR

The Chiang Mai night bazaar is open daily from evening onwards and houses the largest collection of shops and food stalls in Chiang Mai city. It is one of my favourite local markets from Asia and pretty much the place to go for souvenirs.

There are 2 different parts here to check out: one is the stalls all along Chang Klan road selling a variety of souvenir items. The second is Anusarn Market, which has one section for shopping, one for food as well as another for Ladyboy cabaret performances.

The stalls in Anusarn sell the usual items along with more paintings, handicraft and jewellery items. The Anusarn food market has all types of food stalls selling Thai, Italian, Western as well as specialty items like waffles, gelatoes and ice creams. There is even a small cocktail stall for your drink requirements. Honestly you can come here for dinner everyday and still not get bored.

14. SATURDAY/SUNDAY WALKING STREET

If you are there in Chiang Mai during the weekend, you have to check out of these 2 famous walking streets! The cacaphony of sounds, smell of the delicious street food and a general air of enjoyment makes these walking streets a must visit!

The Saturday night market aka Wua Lai walking street is located outside Chiang Mai Gate and has a good collection of souvenir stalls along with many street food stalls.

The Sunday walking street is actually located inside the old city itself: it starts from Tha Phae gate along Rachadamnoean road while passing along several smaller temples on the way.

15. CHANG PHUAK GATE FOOD MARKET

If you want to try more Northern Thai dishes, this is the place! It is located opposite Chuang Phuak Gate/North gate and has a collection of food stalls that set shop every evening. While smaller than the other famous markets, it has a couple of stalls that have been on several food guides.

• Pretty Pork lady/ Vendor with the cowboy hat: sells possibly the best Khao Kha Moo (stewed pork leg) and has been visited even by the likes of Anthony Bourdain
• The famous Suki stall (Suki: Thai hot pot with meat, seafood, vegetables simmering in a hot broth that is flavoured with spicy Suki sauce)

16. GO ON A LOCAL FOOD TOUR

Thailand is famous for it’s food and if you are a foodie, I highly recommend a guided food tour to experience more of the local cuisine. THIS TOUR in particular is very well reviewed for exploring Chiang Mai’s best eating joints , most of which are are known only to locals. For 4 hours, you will be taken in a songthaew to taste Chiang Mai’s best dishes, what’s not to love!

17. TAKE A COOKING CLASS

Thai food is truly one of the best and you can take it to the next level by booking a cooking class. Many travelers and foodies come to Thailand to specifically learn Thai cooking and if this is something that interests you can check out some options here.

These classes usually start with a visit to the local market to buy fresh produce along with teaching and making a full course Thai meal from scratch. This includes favourites like Pad Thai, the green and red curries and sticky rice. Later, you can buy your own Thai spices and sauces to take back home along with the recipe book that is gifted to you.

18. GO CAFÉ HOPPING IN SOME OF THE MOST INSTAGRAMMABLE CAFES EVER

Chiang Mai has no dearth of cute cafes but some have taken it to a whole new level! There are quite a few with different themes that have highly instagrammable visuals along with good food. The ones you have to check out include:

• Chom Café: Lush nature vibes with an enchanted forest vibe
• MARS Café: Step into Martian terrain
• Carp Café: Houses 10,000 koi fish with ponds and gardens
• Versailles de Flore: European Renaissance theme with statues and gardens
• Graph Contemporary: Rustic colonial theme with antique furniture pieces

19. HAVE DINNER AT THE RIVERSIDE

The Ping River in Chiang Mai has a host of restaurants located adjacent to it which make for a great dinner setting. You can look up the best riverside restaurants here. We went to the Riverside Restaurant, a nice place with indoor and outdoor seating just adjacent to the river. They have live music as well as dinner cruises with entertainment. You can look it up HERE.

20. STICKY WATERFALLS

Known locally as ‘Bua Tong, these waterfalls have been named ‘sticky’ as you can climb the rocks under the falls with the water sticking to you. There are three levels with ropes and wooden stairways to help you. Located 60 kms away from Chiang Mai, the falls are located inside Sri Lanna national park and can be easily visited on a tour.

21. NAMTOK HUAY KAEW FALLS

Huay Kaew Waterfalls is the nearest and most easily accessible waterfall from Chinag Mai city centre. It is located near Chiang Mai zoo at the beginning of Doi Suthep road and is a popular picnic spot. Open from 8am-5pm. If you plan it well, you can visit Doi Suthep temple, hike the monk’s trail and finish off at the waterfall in one morning.

22. HUAY TUNG TAO LAKE

A popular fun weekend activity among Thai families is to head to the man made Huay Tung Tao lake for a picnic. The highlight here is renting a small lake side hut to sit around and have your food and drinks. You can rent a paddle boat or even go fishing. Apart from this, there are also fun straw sculptures of gorillas and lions as photo props. There are many restaurants in the area and it also possible to camp for the night. The lake is located 12 kms from Chiang mai city.

23. BAAN KANG WAT ART VILLAGE

The village is actually a local art community centre in the university area that was created to form a close knit artist community and consists of shops and businesses that make handmade and organic products. It has galleries, art and craft studios, library, bakeries and coffee shops and art shops. Interesting workshops on ceramics, jewellery and painting along with regular art and craft exhibitions take place here. If you love all things artsy, don’t miss out on this unique place in Chiang Mai.

24. BO SANG UMBRELLA VILLAGE:

Famous for producing hand-made bamboo umbrellas and parasols, Bo Sang village is a popular excursion from Chiang mai city. Located only 10 kms from the city, the village has been producing umbrellas since a few decades. You can watch the artisans at work in the outdoor area and also see more of the village and areas where other handicrafts are made at the Bo Sang handicrafts centre. The colourful umbrellas certainly make for a pretty picture.

TIP: Timings: 8.3-am to 5pm. You can either join a tour or go on your own.

Now we finally come to some of the day tours you can do around Chiang Mai if you have a couple of extra days in hand.

25. DAY TRIP TO CHIANG RAI

If you don’t have time to stay in Chiang Rai for a couple of days, make sure to at least do a day trip from Chiang Mai. Chiang Rai is located 3 hours away from Chiang Mai and has the most beautiful temples in Thailand in my opinion. You can’t go all the way to Northern Thailand and return without checking them out. The main attractions include White Temple, Blue Temple and Wat Huay Pla Kang. There are multiple day tour options available that include these temples and you can check out some day tours to Chiang Rai here.

26. TAKE A TRIP TO PAI

Pai is a beautiful mountain village located 130kms from Chiang Mai that is famous for its natural scenery and laidback vibe. It is a popular stop on the backpacker route and if you have more time in hand, you might want to head there and experience the natural beauty on offer. Expect rice terraces, rustic villages, hot springs and breathtaking views. And of course the Pai Canyon.

27. PA PONG PIANG RICE TERRACES

These beautiful rice terraces are located in the tiny village of Mae Chaem in the Doi Intathon national park, around 70kms from Chiang Mai. They are best visited during the rainy season from July to September when the rice plants reach their full length and make for picturesque views. Go for a 2 day 1 night tour and stay overnight in a local home stay overlooking scenic views to really look around the various view points as well as interact with the local Karen tribes who live in the area. Keep in mind that these homestays are pretty basic and cost around 500THB per night which includes dinner and breakfast.

How to Reach: There is no direct transportation from Chiang Mai city. You can hire a private car to drop you till Mae Pan. The last leg of this journey 2kms requires a 4×4 due to the rough roads. Generally, the booked homestay arranges this for an extra fee.

28. HOT SPRINGS

If you visit Chiang Mai during winter, soaking in one of the hot springs is truly a wonderful experience. There are many hot springs around Chiang Mai and the most popular ones are San Kamphaeng hot spring, 30 kms from city centre and Pong Duet hot spring in Chiang Dao. There are many vendors selling eggs here to boil in the natural water before selling.

29. VISIT A FLOWER FARM

The popularity of K dramas has seen visitors rushing to pretty flower farms to capture similar pictures. The best time to visit is during winter and spring when these farms look beautiful. Some of the most popular ones include ‘I love flower farm’ in Mae Rim. ‘Yin Yong Garden’ in Mon Jam and ‘Flower Love CNX’ that is 30 mins from the city centre. If we would have travelled during winter, I would have loved to check out ones of these!

30. MON CHAEM VIEW POINT

A small mountain village located 40 mins away from Chiang Mai that boasts of panaromic views and pretty flower farms. Its a pretty good half day tour option if you are all templed out and want some natural scenicery.

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